Domino is a tile-based game that consists of a set of dominoes, called tiles, which are placed on end in long lines. Each domino has one side bearing a pattern of spots (called pips) and the other blank. A complete domino set contains 28 such tiles. The first player begins play by placing one domino on the end of the line. When the first domino is tipped over, it sets off a chain reaction in which the next domino in the line tips over and so on until all of the dominoes have fallen. Dominoes can also be stacked into 3D structures like towers and pyramids.

Dominoes are widely used as educational toys and tools for learning. For example, students can use a domino model to demonstrate how nerve cells, or neurons, work. Dominoes can be arranged to show how nerve impulses travel down pathways in the brain and affect other parts of the body, such as the muscles. The model is a useful tool for explaining how the brain controls a person’s movement, emotions, and thinking.

In addition to playing dominoes, they can be used for creating art. Domino art is a popular hobby and is often displayed on the walls of someone’s home or office. Artists create many different designs using dominoes, including straight lines, curved lines, grids that form pictures when they fall, stacked walls, and even 3D structures like towers and pyramids.

Creating this art requires careful planning to ensure that the design will work properly. The artist must consider the order of the pieces, how they will fit together, and what effect each piece will have when it falls. The artist must also calculate how many dominoes are needed to create the desired effect. This helps the artist plan out the design before starting to build it.

In business, the domino effect is a principle that capitalizes on the power of consistency and commitment. It suggests that if someone makes a small commitment to an idea or goal, they will be more likely to honor that commitment because it aligns with their self-image. This idea is rooted in the classic book on human behavior, Influence by Robert Cialdini.

When writing a novel, the concept of the domino effect can help writers avoid repetition or scenes that don’t make enough of an impact on the scene ahead of them. Whether you are a pantser who writes by the seat of your pants or a plotter who prepares detailed outlines before writing, thinking of each scene as a domino can help you write more effectively.

The word “domino” is derived from the Latin word for domino, meaning little one, or lesser. Its early sense was a long, hooded cloak worn with a mask at a carnival or masquerade. More recently, domino has been used to refer to a game in which players place small blocks, or tiles, on a table in lines and angular patterns. Then, each player tries to match the ends of their tiles. If they can’t, they must “knock” (rap) the table and the play passes to the other player.